Now in paperback and with a new Afterword offering insights into the
events of 2020 and early 2021, including the pandemic, global protests,
racial justice debates and the US presidential election, this book
provides an original and compelling way of understanding the chaotic
world of today's politics. In our post-truth world, tapping into
people's emotions has proved far more effective than rational argument -
and, as Seargeant argues, the most powerful tool for manipulating
emotions is a gripping narrative.
From Trump's America to Brexit Britain, weaving a good story, featuring
fearless protagonists, challenging quests against seemingly
insurmountable odds, and soundbite after soundbite of memorable dialogue
has been at the heart of political success. So does an understanding of
the art of storytelling help explain today's successful political
movements? Can it translate into a blueprint for victory at the ballot
box?
The Art of Political Storytelling looks at how stories are created,
shared and contested, illuminating the pivotal role that persuasive
storytelling plays in shaping our understanding of the political world
we live in. By mastering the tools and tricks of narrative, and
evaluating the language and rhetorical strategies used to craft and
enact them, Seargeant explains how and why today's combination of new
media, populism and partisanship makes storytelling an ever more
important part of the persuasive and political process.
